7 Places You Shouldn’t Miss Out While Visiting Chandigarh

The city beautiful, Chandigarh, has equally beautiful destinations to be visited and loved. With a collaboration of scenic beauty to religious place to historical monuments, Chandigarh has all that you would like to take back as memories.

Here’s a list that will help you prepare your itinerary:

7. National Gallery of Portraits

Situated in Sector 17 Chandigarh, the National Gallery of Portraits is a remeniscence of the breathtaking struggle of independence. The gallery captures the journey of freedom struggle depicted through the numerous photographs of freedom fighters and historic events that led to the country’s independence.

Also housed are the speeches of great leaders of that time namely Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, along with artifacts, documents, and sculptures dated that era. Don’t miss a film showed at the gallery on the freedom movement in India.

6. Mansa Devi Mandir

Dedicated to Goddess Mansa Devi, this temple is situated in Panchkula, part of tricity also including Chandigarh and Mohali. Considered to be one of the temples of great significance for their worshippers, it is visited by people in millions during the auspicious festival of Navratri.

So, during your visit to Chandigarh do not forget to offer your prayers here and at a distance of 10 kms is Chandi Mandir which can make your trip no less than a religious one.

5. The Tower of Shadows

Built by the creator of Chandigarh Mr. Le Corbusier, The Tower of Shadows in Sector 1, is a monument that adds on to the beauty of the city. It is an architectural brilliance intended to demonstrate Le Corbusier’s various theories of sun control.

Found between the High Court and the Parliament the tower captures the shadows formed with the movement of sun.

4. Open Hand

In addition to the Tower of Shadows, another monument of Le Corbusier is that of the Open Hand. It is not only the emblem of Chandigarh but also sends a message of ‘open to receive and give’.

Also See

Though Chandigarh houses many ‘open hand’ sculptures, the one that you cannot miss visiting is situated at the Capitol Complex standing 26 metres high. This structure was particularly designed to move in the direction of wind, so I bet you would need to keep the wind in mind while taking a few pictures there.

3. Zakir Hussain Rose Garden

One of the largest of its kind in Asia, Rose Garden is a must visit during your stay in Chandigarh. This garden was set up in the year 1967 and named after the former President, Zakir Hussain. There are about 50,000 rose bushes with 1600 varieties of roses along with another 17,000 other plantations.

It is a major attraction of the city especially in the month of March when the annual Festival of Gardens is conducted there. There are many competitions that take place during the festival such as photography, landscaping, Rose Prince and Princess and more.

2. Sukhna Lake

Considered to be a hot destination on weekends, Sukhna Lake is one of the best parts of Chandigarh. A formation of Le Corbusier, Sukhna Lake is an artificial lake situated at the foothills of Himalayas.

If you are looking for a moment full of tranquility, Sukhna Lake should be first destination to attain that. With a golf course on one side and Rock Garden on the other, there is much activity to do there. So enjoy the cool breeze and a stroll at the lake after a visit to any other nearby spots.

1. Rock Garden

One of the most popular tourist spots in Chandigarh is the Rock Garden. Founded by Nek Chand, this garden is a compilation of sculptures made from waste materials such as bottles, ceramic, electrical waste etc.

Though his work remained hidden for about 18 years, we are glad that now it is available for people to view and appreciate. His prized possession is a delight to watch and I can assure that you would be left spellbound by Mr. Chand’s creativity.